2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-class Is Benz's New Boxy Small SUV
What It Is: Yes, it's another SUV from Mercedes-Benz. The new GLB will soon join the existing GLA and GLC crossovers to fill out the smaller end of the lineup. As you'd expect from the B in its name, it'll slot between those two in size, and as we can see from these spy photos, it'll have a boxier, more upright profile to give it a distinctive look.
Why It Matters: Because it's an SUV. Mercedes-Benz already sells seven of the things, if you include the coupe variants of the GLC and GLE, but you can never have enough in today's environment-just look at BMW, which offers X models in numbers 1 through 7. The GLB's more rugged, boxy appearance also offers a tie-in with the legendary G-wagen, at least aesthetically; for those who can't afford that six-figure off-road SUV but still want to maintain a similar image, the GLB-class will offer a cheaper alternative.
Platform: The GLB-class will use the same front-wheel-drive platform that resides under the new A-class, which will soon spawn a GLA-class crossover among other variants. Expect both front- and all-wheel-drive versions to be offered.
Powertrain: A turbocharged four-cylinder engine of some sort will likely be the GLB-class's base engine in the U.S.-perhaps a version of the A220 sedan's 2.0-liter unit, but with more power than the small sedan's 188 horsepower. A nine-speed automatic transmission is a sure bet for the GLB, too.
Competition: Audi Q3, BMW X1, BMW X2, Cadillac XT4, Lexus NX.
Estimated Arrival and Price: Given the state of the prototypes visible in these photos, the GLB doesn't look too far away from production. We expect it to make its debut sometime in 2019 as a 2020 model, with a starting price somewhere in the high-$30,000 range, slotting in between the GLA and the GLC.
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